Truck trailer combination



2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS June 11, 1935.. 1 H, JUDD l TRUCK TRAILER'coMBmATIoN' original Filed Dec. 4, i935 June 11, 1935. l. H. JUDD TRUCKTRAILER COMBINATION Original Filed Dec. 4, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HHH 'INVENTOR frziz /Z- Jada? ATTO RNEYS Patented June l1, 1935 y UNITEDSTATES PATENT FFHCE head Kales Company, corporation of Michigan BiverBouge, Mich., a

original application December 4, 1933, serial' No.

10 Claims.

This invention relates generally to means for transporting automobilesespecially truck-trailer combinations, and constitutes a division of myapplication filed Dect mber 4, 1933, bearing Serial One of the essentialobjects of the invention is to provide a truck-trailer combinationwherein the trailer is provided with means for making the front wheelsthereof track or move in an arc coincident with the center of theturning arc of the front wheels of the truck so that the tires on thefront wheels of the trailer will be prevented from scrubbing the roadand unduly wearing out.

Another object is to provide a combination of the type described whereinthe turning movement of the steering wheels of the trailer may beadjusted according to the wheel `base of the truck to which it isconnected.l

Another object is to providemeans for holding or maintaining theadjustment just mentioned once it is made` Other objects, advantages andnovel details of construction of this invention will be made moreapparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered inconnection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: l

Figure 1 isa side elevation of a truck-trailer combination embodying myinvention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view thereof with parts broken awayand in section;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 ofFigure 2 with parts broken away;

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the fifth wheelassembly and associated parts;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevation of one of the draw bars andassociated latch mechanism showing the pin 'l0 in operative latchedposition;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 8-8 ofFigure 7.

Figure 9 is a 'vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line9-9 of Figure 3;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of the cross bar 58, drawbar 63 and connections therebetween.

Referring now to the drawings, A is the truck and B is the trailer of acombination embodying my invention. As shown, the truck A has a chasnsis frame carrying an engine 2 and a drivers the cab. 'I'he rear wheels5 are preferably dual wheels at opposite ends `of the rear axle 9 andDivided and this application May 7, 1934, Serial No. 724,386

are adapted to be driven in the usual way from the engine 2.

I9 is an auxiliary framemounted on and having a portion Il incliningupwardly and rearwardly from the chassis frame I. I2 and I3 respectivelyare uprights rigid with and projecting above the auxiliary frame I0, I4are wheel fenders disposed upon the outer sides of and having dependingportions I5 rigid with the uprights I2 and |3, and I6 are reinforcinggussets for the fenders. In this connection it will be noted that thefenders |4 are elongated in form so as to cover the front wheels |9 ofthe trailer as well as the rear wheels l5 of the truck, the rear endportions of said fenders being formed of flexible or yieldable materialsuch as rubber, rubber composition or weighted canvas and normallyhanging in a vertical plane from an angle crossbar |'Ia rigid with thetop portions I9 of said fenders. Thus, the fiexible portions I1 willafford clearance when the .trailer is being coupled or uncoupled.Moreover, the tops I 9 of such fenders are slightly inclined as showninstead of being curved longitudinally.

Preferably the truck A` is designed to carry two automobiles and forthis purpose is provided with upper and lower tracks 20 and 2|respectively. As shown, the upper track 20 is mounted on and extendsforwardly and rearwardly beyond the top l22 of the cab, while. the lowertrack 2| is mounted on and extends forwardly and rearwardly beyond theinclined portions I9 of the wheel fenders.` The `upper track 20 ispreferably of suicient length to carrya 119" wheel base automobile Cwhile the lower track 2| is suiiiciently long to carry a 136 Wheel baseautomobile D. In this .connection it will be noted that the upper andlower tracks 2U and 2| are staggeredly arranged and that the lower track2| extends froman angle iron 23 that crosses the chassis frame at theback 24 of the cab to a channel crossbar 25 at the rear end of theauxiliary frame I0. Angle irons 26 project laterally from the auxiliaryframe I9 in advance of the fenders I4 and cooperate with the angle iron23 to support the track 2|, while the angle bar ila cooperates with thecrossbar 25 to support the track. To facilitate loading of the uppertrack 29, an: intermediate portion 29 of the lower track 2| is used as askid between the tracks 2| and 20. Normally,` this portion 28 is boltedat 29 to the inclinedportion 30 of the lower track and is nested in therear portion 3| of said track. However, when it is desired to load orunload the upper track 20, the portion 28 is detached from the inclinedportion 30 of the lower track and is fastened to the rear end of theupper track, as illustrated in Figure 2.

The trailer B has a chassis frame 32 carrying upright -side frames 33and provided with front and rear ground-engaging wheels i8 and 34respectively. Preferably, the chassis frame 32 at the forward ends ofthe upright side frames is Y-shaped in plan and the stem 36 of the Y hasan upwardly offset portion 31 at its forward end extending over andconnected to the front axle 38 of the trailer by a fth wheel 38. Thetrailer B also carries two automobiles and for this purpose has upperand lower tracks 40 and 4I respectively which may be loaded by skids(not shown) from the ground. Preferably the lower track 4I is carried bythe chassis frame 32 between the upright side frames 33 and issufliciently long to carry a 130 wheel base automobile E, while theupper track 40 is carried by hingedly mounted crossbars 43 and 44respectively on the side frames 33 and is sufficiently long to carry a136 wheel base automobile F.

Preferably the upper plate 45 of the iifth wheel 39 is rigid with theoffset portion 31 of the frame, While ille lower plate 46 of said fthwheel is connected to the upper plate 45 by a king pin 41 and is rigidwith the centers of transversely extending leaf springs 48 and 49respectively, terminally engaging suitable brackets 50 and 5|respectively rigid with the front axle 38 of the trailer. As shown, thesprings 48 and 49 are fastened by bolts 52 and 53 respectively to thebrackets 5I and have slip engagement with suitable slots 54 and 55respectively in the brackets 50. Preferably both brackets 50 and 5I haveinverted U- shaped portions 56 straddling the' axle 38 and fastenedthereto by bolts 51.

58 is a channel crossbar in advance of the brackets 50 and 5| anddisposed parallel to the axle 38. Preferably the base 59 of the channel58 bears against and is secured to the front faces of the brackets 50and 5I, while the lower side 60 of said crossbar is connected to theaxle 38 by a bolt 6I and nut 6Ia, suitable brackets 6Ib and 6Ic beingwelded to the crossbar 58 and axle 38 respectively and receiving saidbolt. A tube 6|d is sleeved upon the bolt 6I between said brackets andserves as a spacer.

62 are parallel plates secured in the channel crossbar 58 at oppositeends thereof, 63 and 64 respectively are parallel draw bars connected byhorizontal pivot pins 65 and 66 respectively to said parallel plates 62and having transversely extending slots 61 and 68 respectively thereinat their forward ends for receiving horizontal pins 69 and 10respectively carried by bifurcated portions 1I and 12 respectively ofbrackets 13 and 14 respectively rigid with gussets 15 and 16respectively welded to the crossbar 11 of the chassis frame I of thetruck. As shown, the draw bars 63 and 64 are movable forwardly andrearwardly in the bifurcated portions 1| and 12 over the pins 59 and 10and have beveled faces 18 to facilitate engagement with and removal fromthe pins. Bosses respectively are xed to the undersides of the draw bars63 and 64 and contain large bolts or plungers 82 and 83 respectivelywhich are normally held forwardly across the slots 61 and 68 by coilsprings 84 and are retractable by manually operable pull rods 8.6.Preferably these pull rods 86 are swivelly connected to the latch bolts82 and 83 so that they may be turned ninety degrees and have eyes 88 and89 respectively at their rear ends that may be engaged with pins 80 and9| respectively projecting downwardly from the draw bars 63 and 64 whenit is desired to retain the latch bolts 82 and 83 in retracted position.

Preferably the trailer B is provided with means that maybe adiirrsted tomake' the front wheels thereof -track or!` move in an arcv coincidentwith the center of the turning arc of the front wheels it of the truck Aso that the tires on the front wheels i8 of the trailer will befprevented from scrubbing the pavement or unduly wearing out. As shown,the front wheels I8 of the trailer are carried by spindles |00pivotallyfconnected to the front axle 38 at opposite endsthereof. Arms|02 and |03 respectively project-rearwardly from the spindles |00 andare connected by a transversely extending rod |04. A block |05 isslidably mounted in guides I 06Y fixed to the under side of the offsetportion 31 of the stem 36 o1' the Y portion of the trailer frame and hasa depending knob |08 connected by a link |08 to the rod |04. Anysuitable means such as the screw I|0 Journaled in a depending lug IiIIof the frame and threadedly engaging the block |05 may be used to movethe block longitudinally in the guides |06 to vary the steering movementof the front wheels I8 of the trailer, while any suitable means such asthe collars II2 and II3 respectively fastened on the screw IIO by pinsII4 in iront and in rear of the lug III may be used to hold the screwIIO against shifting longitudinally of the offset portion 31 of the stem36iof the Y portion of the trailer frame. Thus, rotation of the screw II0 causes block |05, depending knob |08 and the inner end of link |09 tomove longitudinally of the offset portion 31 of the? stem 36 of the Yportion of the trailer frame relative to king pin 41. In use, theadjustment of thescrew I I 0 is governed by the wheel base of the truckto which the trailer is connected. If the trailer is connected to atruck having a short wheel base; then the screw IIO would be adjusted tomake the wheels I8 turn sharply, whereas the screw IIO would be adjustedto make the wheels I8 turn slightly if the trailer B was connected to atruck having a long wheel base. Thus, the front wheels I8 of the trailermay be made to track on an arc coincident with the center of the turningarc of the front wheels of the truck to which it is connected.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A truck-trailer combination comprising a truck having front and rearwheels and steering mechanism for said front wheels, a trailer havingfront and rear wheels, a connection between said vehicles holding thefront wheels of the trailer in tandem relation with the rear wheels ofthe truck while permitting them to turn, and means carried by thetrailer and entirely independent of the steering mechanism for the frontwheels of said truck for making the front wheels of the trailer turn inan arc coincident with the center of the turning arc of the front wheelsof the truck.

2. A truck-trailer combination comprising a truck having front and rearaxles, ground wheels carried by said axles, steering mechanism for thewheels carried by the front axle of the truck,a

trailer having front and rear axles, and ground wheels carried by saidaxles, a connection between said vehicles operable to constantly holdthe front axle of the trailer parallel to the rear axle of the truck,and means carried by the trailer and operable entirely independent ofthe steering mechanism for the front wheels of said truck while thetruck is turning to make the front wheels of the trailer track with thewheels of the truck.

3. A truck-trailer combination comprising a truck having front and rearwheels and steering mechanism for said front wheels, a trailer havingfront and rear wheels, a connection between said vehicles holding thefront wheels of the trailer in tandem relation with the rear wheels ofthe truck While permitting them to turn in an arc substantiallycoincident with the center of the turning arc of the wheels of thetruck, and means carried by the trailer and operable entirelyindependent of the steering mechanism for the front wheels of said truckto make the front wheels of the trailer turn as aforesaid.

4. A truck-trailer combination comprising a trailer having a chassisframe, a transversely ex tending axle at the forward end of said frame,a fth wheel connection between said frame and axle, steering wheels forthe trailer connected to the forward axle, a truck in advance of thetrailer provided at its forward end with steering wheels and having atransversely extending axle at its rear end, means independently of thefth wheel connection for connecting the trailer to the truck, said meansbeing operable to constantly hold and maintain the forward axle of thetrailer in substantially parallel relation with the rear axle of thetruck, and means associated with the chassis frame and steering wheelsof the trailer and operable during turning movement of the truck to makethe steering wheels of the trailer turn relative to the forward axle ofthe trailer in an arck coincident with the center of the turning are ofthe steering wheels of the truck.

5. A truck-trailer combination comprising a trailer having a chassisframe provided at its forward end with ground-engaging steering wheels,a truck in advance of the trailer provided at its forward end withground-engaging steering wheels, means connecting the trailer to thetruck, means associated with the chassis frame and steering wheels ofthe trailer and operable during turning movement of the truck to makethe steering wheels of the trailer turn in an arc coincident with thecenter of the turning arc of the steering wheels of the truck, and meansfor adjusting the steering movement of the steering wheels of thetrailer according to the wheel base of the truck to which it isconnected.

6. A truck-trailer combination comprising a trailer having a chassisframe provided at its forward end with ground-engaging steering wheels,a truck in advance of the trailer provided at its forward end withground-engaging steering wheels, means connecting the trailer to thetruck, a connection between the chassis frame and steering wheels of thetrailer operable during turning movement of the truck to make thesteering wheels of the trailer turn in an arccoincident with the centerof the turning arc of the steering wheels of the truck, means foradjusting the steering movement of the steering wheels of the traileraccording to the wheel base'of the truck to which it is connected, andmeans for holding or maintaining the adjustment just mentioned once itis made.

7. A truck-trailer combination comprising a trailer having a chassisframe, a transversely extending axle at the forward end thereof, a fifthwheel connection between said frame and axle, wheel spindles pivotallyconnected to saidaxle at opposite ends thereof, ground-engaging steeringwheels for the trailer carried by said spindles, a truck in advance ofthe trailer provided at its forward end with ground-engaging steeringwheels and provided at its'rear end with a transversely extending axlehaving ground-engaging wheels, means independent of the fifth wheelconnection for connecting the trailer to the truck. said means beingoperable to constantly hold and maintainthe forward axle of the trailerin substantially parallel relation with the rear axle of the truck, anda connection between the chassis frame and steering wheels of thetrailer operable during turning movement of the truck to make thesteering wheels of the trailer turn relative to the forward axle of thetrailer in an are coincident with the center of the turning arc of thesteering wheels of the truck, including arms respectively projectingrearwardly from the spin` dles, a transversely extending rod connectedto said arms, a block carried by and adjustable relative to the chassisframe of the trailer, and a link terminally connected to said block androd.

8. In a trailer steering mechanism, the combination with a trailerchassis, a transversely extending axle at the forward end of saidchassis frame and movable relative thereto, a fifth wheel connectionbetween the chassis frame and axle, steering wheel spindles connected tothe axle at opposite ends thereof, ground-engaging steering wheels forthe trailer carried by said spindles, and a connection between thechassis frame and steering Wheels operable to make the said wheels turnrelative to the axle upon movement of the said axle relative to saidchassis frame, including arms rigid with and projecting rearwardly fromsaid spindles, a transversely extending rod connected to said arms, ablock adjustable longtudinally of the chassis frame, a link terminallyconnected to said block and rod, and means carried by the chassis framefor adjusting said block to vary the steering movement of the steeringwheels.A

9. In a trailer steering mechanism, the compination with a trailerchassis, a transversely extending axle at the forward end of saidchassis frame and movable relative thereto, a fth wheel connectionbetween the `chassis frame and axle, steering wheel spindles connectedto the axle at opposite ends thereof, ground-engaging steering wheelsfor the trailer carried by said spindles, and a connection between thechassis frame and steering wheels operable to make the said wheels turnrelative to the axle upon movement of said axle relative to said chassisframe, including arms rigid with and projecting rearwardly from saidspindles, a transversely extending rod connected to said arms, a blockadjustable longitudinally of thechassis frame, a link terminallyconnected to the rod and block, guide means for said block, a lug rigidwith the chassis frame adjacent said guides, and to means for adjustingsaid block in said guides to vary the steering movement of said steeringwheels, including `aI screwl journaled in said lug and threadedlyengaging said block.

10. In a trailer steering mechanism, the combination with a trailerchassis, a transversely extending axle at the forward end of saidchassis frame and movable relative thereto, a fth wheel connectionbetween the chassis frame and axle, steering wheel spindles connected tothe axle at opposite ends thereof, ground-engaging steering wheels forthe trailer carried by said spindles, and a,connection between thechassis frame and steering wheels operable to make the said wheels turnrelative to the axle upon movement of said axle relative to said chassisframe, including arms rigid with and projecting rearwardly from saidspindles, a transversely extending rod connected to said arms, a blockadjustable longitudinally of the chassis frame and having a dependingspherical portion, a link terminally connected to said sphericalportions and rod, and means carried by the chassis frame for adjustingsaid block to vary the steering movement of the steering wheels.

' IRVING H. JUDD.

